Friday, April 23, 2010

The May issue of Oklahoma Magazine is out and Trisha Yearwood is on the cover. The May issue is always dedicated to notable Oklahoma women. This year honorees include Jo Rowan, Paula Marshall, Dr. Lam Le, Nancy Randolph Davis, Sandy Garrett, Ruth Addison, Allison Price, and The Shock (Tulsa's wonderful WNBA team)! Also some businesswomen, some women's stores and Wine, Women and Shoes! Check it all out at http://www.okmag.com/currentissue/index.cfm?

Friday, April 16, 2010

Can you believe it? Some employers think they can tell new moms who need to express milk to just use the bathroom!

We think not. And fortunately it’s a scenario that tens of thousands of new moms won’t have to face any longer.

The new health reform law includes an important provision that requires employers to provide covered workers reasonable break time to express milk for up to one year after a child’s birth. They must also provide "a place, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public."

It’s about time. Studies show that breast-feeding can help lead to healthy outcomes for women and children, and save billions in health costs. But until now, many women have had to stop breast-feeding — or never even start — because they couldn’t pump milk in their workplaces.

We have Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) for getting this provision into federal law. It is already the law in Oklahoma (although I don't know the degree to which Oklahoma companies comply).

As a matter of fact, I learned today that the University of Oklahoma College of Nursing is going to relocate their designated area for new mothers to a new room which will be decorated with artwork from Kenya and dedicate it to my dear friend, Florence Mubichi, who recently lost her battle with ovarian cancer. Here is their memorial to Florence who was on the OU College of Nursing faculty while she was working on her PhD.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

They will be working with The National Collaborative for Women's History Sites (NCWHS) to create a national clearinghouse for information on state-by-state Woman Suffrage celebrations leading up to the 100th Anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution on August 26, 2020. Their goal is the creation of a nationwide Woman Suffrage Trail highlighting the role of each state in the 72-year national campaign that won the right to vote for women.

The National Women's History Project has achieved great progress in their first 30 years of Writing Women Back into History. Now it is time for Oklahomans and others to start thinking about how we want to celebrate the Woman Suffrage Centennial in 2020! If you have any thoughts, leave a comment please!

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Former Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller died yesterday at the age of 64. She was a strong advocate for women's rights and Indian rights. Here are a couple of links that help tell the story of this remarkable woman.Former Cherokee Chief Wilma Mankiller dies,Tulsa World, 4/6/10